Half Day 4x4 Desert Tour (no overnight)

This canyon lies in Jebel Khazali, a stunning mountain with imposing sheer cliffs that seem to sprout from the desert sands to more than the height of the Empire State Building. This cave-like canyon has been moulded by the elements over millennia and provides excellent air and shelter tucked away between massive monolithic rocks. You can easily imagine how it would have looked with Bedouin tents, families resting, drinking tea, and children playing. You will also find numerous Nabatean, Islamic (Kufic), and Thamudic inscriptions and petroglyph rock drawings on the canyon walls dating back thousands of years.

The red dunes nearby are great fun to scramble around, although climbing up is tough. You will, however, be rewarded with a stunning view of the varying colours of the sand. Afterwards, you can run (or roll) down the slope - whichever way you prefer to descend!

We continue on to a beautiful rock bridge. This is another chance to climb these stunning and entirely natural rock formations. Climbing is at your own risk (some parts can be quite steep), but as it is sandstone, most people don't have any problems and greatly enjoy the experience. This is a beautiful photo opportunity, with the natural stone bridge lying in front of a huge expanse of desert as far as the eye can see, and you, standing aloft, arms spread as wide as your smile.

We will visit the Anfashieh inscriptions only a little further, which are at least 2000 years old. These ancient rock drawings depict camel riders and huntsmen. Another ancient sight is Lawrence's House, which is an old Nabatean temple. In contrast to Petra, however, this temple was not hewn out of the rock but built with bricks. This is a very remote location and - except during low season - you will be able to glimpse the loneliness of the deep desert. You will have an opportunity here to try your hand at rock climbing and take in an unforgettable view of the vast desert that lies before you.

The next part of the tour will allow you to stretch your legs as you stroll through a magnificent canyon. The walls on either side reach improbable heights while the sandy floor and occasional vegetation make for a pleasant amble through the cooling shade. The jeep will leave you at the entrance to the canyon and pick you up when you emerge on the other side about half an hour later.

For many visitors, the tour's high point, both literally and figuratively, is the Umm Fruth rock bridge. This stunning rock bridge is 15m (50ft) above the ground, and if you are brave enough to scramble up, it will provide you with the best photo opportunity of the day. If you don't like heights, you can be the designated photographer, capturing an unforgettable memory for those on top of the bridge. A Bedouin tent shop is nearby where you can take refreshments or even peruse the local handicrafts on sale.